AD VENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 123 



the saddle, and, as the horse floundered, the stirrup-leathers 

 came away from the hooks, and they fell to the bottom. 



With great presence of mind the rider drove his spear into 

 the mud to mark the spot, and, throwing himself from his 

 horse, scrambled ashore. Eetaining his hold of the reins, he 

 managed to guide his horse along the bank, and at length got 

 him to dry land. We vainly endeavoured to recover the 

 stirrups. The water was too deep to allow a man to feel for 

 them with his feet when wading, and too muddy for diving 

 operations. The knowledge that the water was full of alli- 

 gators did not encourage us in our search. 



I have seen as many as thirty of these reptiles, some of 

 them twelve and fourteen feet in length, basking on the mud 

 in the noonday sun, within a few hundred yards of the spot 

 where my companion -crossed. The wounded buck escaped 

 from us, but was no doubt soon killed by jackals and wolves. 



Near the head of the Gulf of Cambay very good antelope- 

 shooting can be obtained, but the country is bare and desolate 

 to behold, and contains large areas of uncultivable waste. 

 In few spots can a tree be found to shade the sportsman's 

 tent, and this inhospitable region should only be visited during 

 the cold months. I was encamped there with a friend in the 

 latter part of the year 1855. We had lately arrived from 

 Surat, and after a ride of about sixteen miles, from the town 

 of Dhollera to our tents, we breakfasted, and ordering our 

 horses and a shooting-cart to be got ready, went forth for the 

 first day of the season. As we were neither of us new at the 

 work, and preferred to combine sport with conversation, we 

 shot together, taking alternate chances. At sunset we returned 

 to camp, having four handsome black bucks in the cart. 

 Antelope abounded in all directions, and before we left the 

 neighbourhood we had a goodly show of heads and skins. 



